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Oregon News
POLITICS
Marion County Judge allows May vote on Oregon transportation tax referendum
KATU | By Vasili Varlamos
A Marion County judge has allowed the vote on the controversial transportation tax package to remain on the May primary ballot, denying a request to block a new law that moved the referendum from the November general election.
In a written opinion issued Wednesday, the judge said the plaintiffs are unlikely to succeed on the merits of their constitutional challenge, concluding that the Legislature likely had authority to change the election date and amend statutory election processes.
"In all events, the lack of likelihood of success on the merits is the overwhelming consideration. Plaintiffs’ motion must be denied," Senior Judge David Leith wrote in the opinion.
Federal judge rules state must let disabled senior submit anti-gas tax argument for voters’ pamphlet
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Alex Baumhardt
A federal judge on Wednesday ruled in favor of a Klamath Falls woman who argued the state violated a federal disability rights law by requiring she quickly submit 500 signatures or pay $1,200 to get an argument against a gas tax referendum into the Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet before Thursday.
3 of Gov. Tina Kotek’s senior aides are departing
The Oregonian | By Carlos Fuentes
Several senior staffers in Gov. Tina Kotek’s office will depart in the coming weeks, the governor’s office confirmed Wednesday.
Taylor Smiley Wolfe, deputy chief of staff of governor’s initiatives, Bob Livingston, legislative director, and Elisabeth Shepard, public affairs and communications director, will leave by late April, Kotek’s office said.
Hundreds of Oregonians sign up to run for statewide races, Congress, Legislature
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Julia Shumway
More than 350 Oregonians, veteran elected officials and newcomers alike, filed to run for statewide, congressional and legislative offices by Tuesday’s 5 p.m. deadline.
From farm store rules to Moda Center renovations, these Oregon bills got bipartisan support
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Mia Maldonado
Republicans during Oregon’s 2026 legislative session repeatedly criticized Democrats, who hold the majority in the Legislature, for not working across the aisle on measures such as moving the date of a gas tax referendum and policies they said conflict with President Donald Trump’s tax and immigration agenda.
Enterprise senator leads effort for wolf compensation
Wallowa County Chieftain | By Bill Bradshaw
The Oregon Legislature approved a bill March 4 that will raise money to compensate livestock owners whose animals are killed by wolves, among other things.
Senate Bill 4134, which started in the Oregon House, calls for a 1.25% increase in the Transient Lodging Tax. It is now on its way to the desk of Gov. Tina Kotek.
Sen. Todd Nash, R-Enterprise, who has repeatedly fought for compensation for ranchers who have financial loses from wolf depredation, was one of the chief sponsors in the Senate. He was assisted in the House by Reps. Ken Helm, D-Beaverton, and Mark Owens R-Crane.
EDUCATION
Portland Community College faculty and staff will go on strike
OPB | By Tiffany Camhi
Portland Community College announced Wednesday that it will be operating remotely, as hundreds of PCC faculty and classified staff announced they will strike over stalled contract negotiations.
HOUSING
How bad is Portland’s home construction slump? New data says worst in 15 years
The Oregonian | By Jonathan Bach
Portland approved building permits last year for the fewest new homes since just after the Great Recession, new data shows, dragged down by plummeting apartment construction.
Permitting across all housing types fell 28% from the year before to 1,223 in 2025. That’s the lowest point since 2010, the immediate wake of the 2008 financial crisis, when Portland approved just 1,100 new homes.
Developer abandons plans for Burnside apartments, extending Portland’s construction drought
The Oregonian | By Jonathan Bach, Mark Friesen
“That project is not going forward,” said David Mullens, a representative for the now-axed apartment community, which would have risen five stories over Burnside.
In this case, it was a matter of high interest rates and lenders’ demands that the developer put up substantial equity of its own to access financing for the project.
“The financing that’s available is not the financing of yesterday,” Mullens said. “The owner reached a decision that it wasn’t prudent to go forward.”
It’s a microcosm of what’s happening around the city.
Economists say cities like Portland desperately need to build housing to improve affordability. But those units are not being built quickly enough. Data shows the city approved only 1,223 permits for new homes in 2025, the lowest number since 2010 in the wake of the Great Recession, when officials approved 1,100.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Oregon DEQ fines Coffin Butte Landfill $3M, largest in agency history
Statesman Journal | By Tracy Loew
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has fined Coffin Butte Landfill $3.02 million for 10 serious air quality violations.
It is the largest fine in agency history and comes after years of complaints and investigations into operations at the 178-acre landfill, located north of Corvallis.
Regional News
Washington state House approves 'millionaire's tax' bill, heads to Senate for confirmation
KGW
The House passed a "millionaires tax" bill imposing a 9.9% tax on high earners, stirring debate on future tax reform in Washington.
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